Membrane Fusion
QUESTION
Dear Ms. Ultrasound,
Hello, I would appreciate your advice, I had a 17 week ultrasound to have an amniocentesis done but the doctor couldn't do it as he said the "membranes had not fused yet" he did not explain anything.
Is this unusually late for them to fuse? i.e. I wondered if this could indicate a problem. I don't know how common this is. Thank you
ANSWER
Hi
I don't think I have the information to answer your question accurately. I will guess that the doctor thought the amnion and the chorion had not fused. These are layers of the gestational sac. It would be late for fusion if this is what the doctor was talking about.
To be honest I have never been involved with an amniocentesis that could not be performed for this reason. I think you will have to ask you doctor to explain why you could not have the amnio.
With Regards,
--Jane RDMs
Jane Foley
Jane Foley has worked as a Sonographer (Ultrasound Technologist) since 1979. Jane has lived and worked in many parts of the world including Saudi Arabia. She is a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer or RDMS. She pulls a wealth of information from her experience in the field of Radiology and her interactions with such a broad cross-section of cultures she has visited. She now makes her home on the island of Maui with her English husband, Michael.
